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The Palmer inquiry attacks the "deafness" of the Immigration
Department to concerns about its practices voiced repeatedly by a
range of stakeholders, and condemns its "assumption culture"
sometimes bordering on denial.

In a comprehensive slating of the way the department viewed its
world and its work, Mr Palmer said it assumed "depression is simply
a normal part of detention life".

As a result, abnormal behaviour was seen as normal when the
medical and mental health was assessed.

Criticism of processes was put down to critics not understanding
the complexities or having their own agendas.

The report rejects the defence that the Rau case represented
less than 0.001 per cent of those dealt with annually, saying this
line demonstrated the "culture and mindset" that had led to
failures.

"The case of Cornelia Rau was not the 'one in one hundred year
flood' and could have, and should have, been resolved much
earlier," it said.

The Rau case showed "not so much incompetent management as an
absence of management" over 10 months  a finding with wide
and serious implications for a "front-line" policy depart-
ment.

The serious problems with handling cases "stem from a
deep-seated culture and attitudes and a failure of executive
leadership in the compliance and detention areas".

Department officers are accused of a blind trust in systems and
processes that had failed. Most officers in immigration detention
saw themselves as a "bit player".

The influx of unauthorised arrivals in 2000-01 meant policies
and procedures were developed "on the run".

But the department had responsibilities to honour, and if
existing resources and structures were inadequate, this should have
been brought to the Government's attention.

There was a clear "disconnect" between policy development and
management in Canberra and the operational requirements in Baxter
and the Queensland regional office.

The report warned that changing culture and attitudes and
fostering a new enabling culture would take some time. Reform must
come from the top but could not come solely from within.

"It is difficult to see how the people responsible for failed
processes, poor decisions and regrettable outcomes would have the
credibility and objectivity to bring about the fundamental change
of mindset that is necessary," it said.

Independent professional advice should be brought in to review
the functions and operations of the department's divisions dealing
with broader control and detention.

- The Federal Government must end mandatory detention and
improve mental health services in light of the Palmer report's
findings, advocates and health professionals said yesterday.

The Labor Party called for Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone
to be sacked and for a royal commission to get to the bottom of the
problems within the department.

The Australian Medical Association said the report "whitewashes"
concerns about the mental health of detainees. It called for mental
health services to be provided by the relevant state health
jurisdiction and not the Immigration Department.